European Christendom
Byzantine Empire
395 CE = final division of Roman Empire into eastern and western halves
476 = end of the western Roman Empire
Eastern half remained intact = the Byzantine Empire (aka Byzantium)
The Fall of the Roman Empire
Roads in disrepair Cities falling apart Central government
broke down Long-distance trade
stopped People moved to rural
areas Christianity still
dominant = Roman Catholicism
Western Europe After Rome
Unified and centralized government
Capital = Constantinople
Religion = Eastern Orthodox Christianity
Attempted to preserve some elements of the Roman Empire
The Byzantine Empire
Enjoyed many advantages that allowed it to stay intact, unlike the western Roman Empire◦ Wealthier and more
urbanized◦ More defensible capital;
Constantinople was walled in◦ Shorter frontier to guard◦ Stronger army and navy◦ Strong leaders and clever
diplomacy
The Byzantine Empire
Elements of the Roman Empire within Byzantium:◦ Roads◦ Taxation system◦ Military structures◦ Centralized administration◦ Laws and court system◦ Roman-style robes and
sandals But a lot changed as well
Preservation of the Roman Empire
Never as large as the Roman Empire
Reached its largest size during the reign of Emperor Justinian
Lost many territories due to Arab/Muslim expansion in the 7th century = Syria/Palestine, Egypt, and North Africa
Still controlled: the eastern Mediterranean, Greece, the Balkans, and Anatolia
The Byzantine State
Centralized authority in Constantinople◦ Emperor viewed as “God’s earthly
representative” Imperial court filled with
grandeur, wealth, and court ceremonies
Provinces within the empire ruled by generals who had civil authority and could raise their own armies
Government focused on: collecting taxes, maintaining order, and suppressing revolts
Did not become heavily involved in the lives of most people
Political State of Byzantium
Empress Theodora (Justinian’s Wife)
Began to face invasions after 1085 CE from:◦ Catholic Crusaders from
Western Europe◦ Turkic Muslim invaders
Empire officially fell when Ottoman Turks conquered Constantinople in 1453
Political State of Byzantium
Caesaropapism = Church and state were connected◦ Unlike in Western Europe where
the Roman Catholic Church was independent from political authorities
Emperor = assumed roles of head of state and head of the Church◦ Appointed Church leaders◦ Called Church councils into
session◦ Made decisions about religious
doctrine/rules◦ Treated the Church as a
government department
The Byzantine Church
Eastern Orthodox Christianity provided a cultural identity for people within the Byzantine Empire
Empire (especially Constantinople) filled with churches, relics of saints, and icons
Icons = religious paintings of Jesus, Mary, and other saints/holy figures
The Byzantine Church
Eastern Orthodox came from the Roman Empire originally, so it shares many common elements with Roman Catholic Christianity:◦ Teachings of Jesus◦ The Bible◦ The Sacraments◦ A church hierarchy with
patriarchs, bishops, and priests◦ Missionaries◦ Intolerance toward other
religions
The Byzantine Church
The Byzantine Church
Eastern Orthodox Roman Catholic
Byzantine Empire Greek Priests grew long
beards Priests could get
married Rejected the authority
of the Pope of Rome
Western Europe Latin Priests shaved Priests = celibate Accepted the Roman
Pope as the sole authority for Christians everywhere
Further separation came between the Eastern Orthodox Church and the Roman Catholic Church in 1054◦ Both Churches
excommunicated each other
◦ Declared that those in the opposing Christian tradition were not real Christians
The Byzantine Church
Byzantium & the World Byzantium faced many
threats from outsiders◦ Persian Empire◦ Arab armies/the Islamic world◦ Crusaders from Western
Europe Biggest military weapon =
“Greek fire”◦ Combination of oil, sulfur, and
lime launched from bronze tubes
◦ Worked like a flamethrower
Byzantium & the World Central player in long-distance trade of
Eurasia Products made by Byzantine craftspeople in
high demand◦ Jewelry◦ Gemstones◦ Silver and gold work◦ Linen, woolen, and silk textiles◦ Purple dyes
Byzantium & the World Significant cultural
influence in the world Preserved ancient
Greek learning and transmitted it to the Islamic world and Western Europe
Impacted scientists, philosophers, theologians, and intellectuals
Aristotle
Byzantium & the World Spread of Eastern
Orthodox religion --> especially to Slavic-speaking peoples in the Balkans and Russia
Cyril and Methodius = created a Slavic alphabet◦ Called Cyrillic script◦ Made it possible to translate
the Bible and other religious texts
◦ Helped in mass conversion
Slavic Peoples
Cyrillic Alphabet
Conversion of Russia Most significant
expansion of Eastern Orthodox Christianity = to Kievan Rus◦ Modern-day Ukraine and
western Russia◦ Major city = Kiev◦ Highly stratified society◦ Ruled by many different
princes Prince Vladimir = Prince
of Kiev
Conversion of Russia Prince Vladimir = wanted to bring a new
faith to Rus that would unify the many diverse peoples of the region
He also wanted to link Rus into wider networks of communication and exchange in the world
Conversion of Russia Prince Vladimir was
drawn to Eastern Orthodox Christianity because of:◦ The splendor and wealth of
Constantinople◦ The beauty of Eastern
Orthodox churches As a result of this
conversion he received:◦ A sister of the Byzantine
emperor as a bride◦ Byzantine priests and
advisorsInterior of St. Mark’s
Basilica
Conversion of Russia Kievan Rus consequently
adopted many Byzantine cultural elements:◦ Architectural styles◦ Cyrillic alphabet◦ Use of icons◦ Monastic tradition stressing
prayer and service◦ Idea of imperial/state
control of the Church